Wednesday Volume 520 15 December 2010 No. 91 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 15 December 2010 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2010 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 891 15 DECEMBER 2010 892 the Finucane case—a contentious case, as the hon. House of Commons Gentleman knows—was laid out clearly in my written ministerial statement on 11 November. Wednesday 15 December 2010 Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) (Con): At the risk of broadening the question from the previous exchange, The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock let me say to the Secretary of State that coming to terms with history is the responsibility of us all. Those who PRAYERS are British, those who are Irish and those who are both welcome the progress that has been made over the past few years and recognise that many have contributed [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] to it. BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS Mr Paterson: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We want to bring as broad a range of people as possible into the process of negotiation, so that when we arrive CORONATION OF THE VIRGIN at a means of going forward, as many people as possible Resolved, have bought into it. That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, That she will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East) (Lab): before this House a Return of the Report from Right Honourable The Secretary of State will know that the Attorney-General Sir David Hirst, Chairman of the Spoliation Advisory Panel, for Northern Ireland is in the process of reopening a dated 15 December 2010, in respect of an oil sketch by Sir Peter Paul Rubens, The Coronation of the Virgin, now in the possession large number of historical inquests, which will place of the Samuel Courtauld Trust.—(Angela Watkinson.) significant additional financial burdens on the Courts Service and the police service. Given the Government’s responsibilities in relation to the past, how does the Secretary of State intend to approach the sharing of Oral Answers to Questions those costs? Mr Paterson: The right hon. Gentleman played a key role in seeing those powers devolved. He will know that NORTHERN IRELAND the administration of inquests is a devolved matter that is entirely in the hands of the Attorney-General for The Secretary of State was asked— Northern Ireland. It would not be for us to interfere in the mechanics and financing of his Department, which Dealing with the Past are entirely down to the local Executive. Mr Shaun Woodward (St Helens South and Whiston) 1. Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP): (Lab): Given the commitments by the British and Irish What recent discussions he has had on steps to deal Governments at Weston Park, and the commitment by with the past in Northern Ireland. [29910] those Governments to an inquiry into the death of Pat Finucane, does the Secretary of State recognise that it The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr Owen would be unwise for the British Government to act Paterson): My hon. Friend the Minister of State and I unilaterally? have met with political parties, community organisations, academics and victims groups from across the community Mr Paterson: The right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly to discuss dealing with the past. We will continue to well that this is not an easy case, as he had three years to listen to the views of people in Northern Ireland to find resolve the matter, as the real Secretary of State. He a way forward on this sensitive and contentious issue. effectively ended up with a Mexican stand-off, where the family wanted one thing and he wanted them to Mr Campbell: The Secretary of State made a have an inquiry, as I understand it, under the Inquiries commitment, which he repeated several times, that there Act 2005. He knows that this is not an easy matter to would be no more costly, open-ended inquiries. Any resolve, and that is why I had a helpful meeting with decision by him to hold a further, restricted inquiry—for Mrs Finucane and her son. I laid out the process that example, into the Pat Finucane incident—would be we intend to follow in my written ministerial statement opposed on the one hand by nationalists and republicans, of 11 November. but regarded by others as a prerequisite for long-standing grievances, against the Irish Republic’s Government, Mr Woodward: The right hon. Gentleman will know for example, to be inquired into. Is it not more sensible that I have also met with Geraldine Finucane. I pay and consistent for the Secretary of State to say, “We’ve tribute to the way in which she has conducted herself, as reached the end of the inquiry road”? I know he has too. However, notwithstanding his remarks about future inquiries, now that he is the real Secretary Mr Paterson: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for of State—as he described it—is he beginning to understand his question. He is quite right: our stated policy is that the damage that could be done to community support we do not want to see any more costly and open-ended for the devolved institutions and to the British Government inquiries. However, my right hon. Friend the Prime if he were to renege on existing undertakings, made by a Minister said during the debate on the Saville statement previous Government and supported by his party in that we would look at individual cases. Our position on opposition, to independently investigate the past? 893 Oral Answers15 DECEMBER 2010 Oral Answers 894 Mr Paterson: I cannot fail to point out that the right Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury) (Con): Can the hon. Gentleman did not meet Mrs Finucane when he Secretary of State confirm that, if the situation were, was the Secretary of State. I wrote to her in June, and I regrettably, to get worse in Northern Ireland, either had a meeting in November, which was the time that the immediately or over the course of the next few years, family chose, and we had a very sensible discussion. He those extra resources would come from the UK knows that this is not an easy issue to resolve, and I laid Government, rather than from the money already allocated out very clearly in the written ministerial statement that to Northern Ireland? a number of issues have to be considered. We are quite open-minded about this, and we are determined to try Mr Paterson: We are absolutely clear about that. It to find a resolution that is satisfactory to all sides. was part of the settlement made by the previous Government that, should there be a deterioration in the security position in Northern Ireland, the Government Terrorist Threat (Policing) of the United Kingdom would be prepared to accept a bid, on security grounds, for resources from the contingency 2. Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab): What recent reserve. I repeat that emphatically today. I said that to assessment he has made of the likely effect of proposed the Justice Minister when I spoke to him this morning. changes to public expenditure in Northern Ireland on policing the threat to security from dissident groups. Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North) (DUP): In view of [29911] the recent revelations on the WikiLeaks website—which were confirmed by the former Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern—that Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams 3. Gregg McClymont (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and had prior knowledge of the Northern bank robbery in Kirkintilloch East) (Lab): what discussions he has had 2003, can the Secretary of State confirm that co-operation with the Northern Ireland Executive on the likely effect will take place between the Garda and the PSNI, that a of proposed changes to public expenditure in Northern full investigation will take place, that no stone will be Ireland on policing the threat to security from dissident left unturned, and that the Historical Enquiries Team groups. [29912] will be allowed to pursue this matter in the way that it is pursuing other cases in Northern Ireland? The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr Owen Paterson): I meet the Justice Minister regularly to discuss Mr Paterson: I thank the right hon. Gentleman for the policing of the terrorist threat and related expenditure. his question. I think that the answer was well put by the I welcome the publication this morning of the Northern party leader at the British-Irish Council in the Isle of Ireland Executive’s draft budget, with its significant Man earlier this week. We are quite clear that those who allocation to the Department of Justice. I can assure the have a past can explain for themselves. For the present, hon. Gentleman that this Government will ensure that however, we are content for those who adhere to the adequate resources are available to meet the threat. Mitchell principles and pursue their legitimate political aims by peaceful democratic means to play a part in the Bill Esterson: Does the Secretary of State understand process. The other issues that the right hon. Gentleman the very real public concern, not just in Northern raised are matters of law and order; they are matters not Ireland but elsewhere in the United Kingdom, about for elected Members but for the police and the prosecuting any cuts in front-line policing in Northern Ireland and authorities.